Integrated rock-dump ROV to be developed and built
Integrated ROV for Boskalis
The ROV will be stationed on board a new, 159-metre long fallpipe vessel that is currently being built for Boskalis at the Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd. shipyard in Singapore. Seatools will handle the construction and the entire engineering of this new project, and develop the advanced software that will enable the ROV to be easily controlled from on board the mother vessel.
The concept is described as a main ROV fitted with two lateral thrusters, with a stainless steel frame in which the survey ROV is carried underwater. Once it arrives at its operating depth, the survey ROV flies away from the rock-dump ROV to perform its own task practically automatically. The link between the two ROVs comprises a pair of tethers, which are always under tension. This allows the survey ROV in fact only two instead of four freedoms of movement, which simplifies the operator’s job. Another novel feature is the deflector attached to the underside of the rock-dump ROV: it can be configured to dump the rock to either side of the submersible or the stones can be spread at a larger breadth. Like the ROV, the deflector is controlled from the bridge of the new Boskalis fallpipe vessel.
Delivery of the integrated ROV is scheduled for 2011.
